Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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DETECTABLE SHAFT END CLOSURES
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0001]
Embodiments of the present application generally relate to shaft end
enclosures or covers. More particularly, but not exclusively, embodiments of
the present
application relate to systems and methods concerning detection of polymer
enclosures or
portions thereof during manufacturing processes.
BACKGROUND
[0002] In at
least certain types of applications, equipment and/or components
utilized in the transmission of power may be primarily constructed from non-
metallic
based materials. For example, in an effort to eliminate at least certain types
of bacteria,
equipment or associated components used in the manufacturing and/or processing
of food
and beverage products may be regularly subjected to relatively extreme wash
down in
which the equipment and components are power washed with water and/or chemical
agents. Yet, such wash downs can accelerate the deterioration of at least
certain metal
based equipment and components. Thus, in at least some industries, certain
types of
equipment or components may be constructed from a non-metallic material, such
as, for
example, a polymer. For example, certain types of power transmission
components,
including, but not limited to, support or bearing housings, shaft end
closures, gear boxes,
and/or motor housings or enclosures may be constructed from a polymer.
[0003] While
use of polymers for at least certain types of power transmission
components can be beneficial in terms of corrosion or rust resistance,
polymers can be
relatively undetectable by certain types of detection devices. For example,
during a
manufacturing or processing operation, a power transmission component, or a
fragment
thereof, may become dislodged from its associated device, machine, or
equipment. When
such dislodging or breakage of the component occurs, there is the possibility
that the
component, or a portion thereof, may become placed in the product that is
being
manufactured or processed. For example, during food manufacturing processing,
a shaft
end closure can become dislodged for a support housing and enter into a food
or beverage
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product. While certain regulations and/or guidelines require inspection of
food or
beverage products for the presence of such potential contaminants, the nature
of polymer
materials make such detection of dislodged or broken polymer components in
food and
beverage products difficult. For example, the nature or properties of polymers
can make
detection of polymers by X-ray and metal detection equipment problematic.
Thus, in at
least certain situations, contamination associated with a dislodged or broken
portion of a
polymer component being present in a manufactured or processed product may not
be
identified until the later stages of the manufacturing process. Moreover, in
such
situations, the detection, if any, of the dislodged or broken polymer
component may not
occur until there is a visual inspection and recognition of the detect, such
as, for example,
by visual recognition of colored fragments of the polymer component. In at
least some of
these cases, there may be no way to tell how much of the product is effected
during
processing, and which can result in the entire manufactured lot needing to be
discarded.
BRIEF SUMMARY
[0004] An
aspect of an embodiment of the present application is a shaft end
closure having a body portion structured for mounting to a power transmission
component, the body portion formed from a composition comprising a first
component, a
second component, and a third component. According to certain embodiments, the
first
component can comprise a polymer while the second component can comprise a
material
that enhances detection of the composition by a first electronic detection
device. Further,
the third component can comprise a compound that enhances detection of the
composition by a second electronic detection device that detects different
characteristics
of the composition than the first electronic detection device, the second and
third
components being different that the first component.
[0005] Another
aspect of an embodiment of the present application is a shaft end
closure formed from a composition consisting of a first component comprising
at least
one of a polypropylene, a polycarbonate, a polyterephthalate (PET) and a
polyamide.
The composition can further include a second component comprising a plurality
of metal
particles in a plastic carrier, the metal particles having an average particle
size of at least
microns. Additionally, the composition can include a third component
comprising
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barium sulfate. Further, composition of the shaft end closure is detectable by
X-ray and
metal detection devices.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] The description herein makes reference to the accompanying figures
wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several
views.
[0007] Figure 1A illustrates a front side perspective view of a mounted
ball
bearing device having an exemplary shaft cover and a coupled to a shaft
according to an
illustrated embodiment of the present application.
[0008] Figure 1B illustrates a front side perspective view of an
exemplary shaft
cover according to an illustrated embodiment of the present application.
[0009] Figure 2A illustrates a side view of an exemplary shaft cover
constructed
from a material that includes a first, second, and third component.
[00010] Figure 2B illustrates a side view of an exemplary shaft cover
having a first
portion that is constructed from a material that includes a first and a second
component
and a second portion that is constructed from a material that includes a first
and a third
component.
[00011] Figure 3 illustrates a front side perspective view of an exemplary
shaft
cover according to an illustrated embodiment of the present application.
[00012] Figure 4 illustrates a front side perspective view of an exemplary
shaft
cover according to an illustrated embodiment of the present application.
[00013] The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed
description of
certain embodiments of the present application, will be better understood when
read in
conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the
application,
there is shown in the drawings, certain embodiments. It should be understood,
however,
that the present application is not limited to the arrangements and
instrumentalities shown
in the attached drawings. Further, like numbers in the respective figures
indicate like or
comparable parts.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[00014] Certain
terminology is used in the foregoing description for convenience
and is not intended to be limiting. Words such as "upper," "lower," "top,"
"bottom,"
"first," and "second" designate directions in the drawings to which reference
is made.
This terminology includes the words specifically noted above, derivatives
thereof, and
words of similar import. Additionally, the words "a" and "one" are defined as
including
one or more of the referenced item unless specifically noted. The phrase "at
least one of'
followed by a list of two or more items, such as "A, B or C," means any
individual one of
A, B or C, as well as any combination thereof
[00015] Figure
1 illustrates a front side perspective view of a mounted ball bearing
device 100 having an exemplary shaft cover 110 and a coupled to a shaft 104
according
to an illustrated embodiment of the present application. The illustrated
mounted ball
bearing device 100 can include a body portion, such as a housing 102, having
an internal
rotating mechanism that receives the shaft 104. For example, according to the
illustrated
embodiment, the internal rotating mechanism can, for example, include a cage
in which a
plurality of individual bearings (not shown) are mounted in a common
arrangement. The
illustrated housing 102 includes two mounting tabs 106 on opposing sides of
the ball
bearing device 100. Each tab 106 can be adapted to facilitate the mounting of
the ball
bearing device 100. For example, the tabs 106 can each having an opening 108
extending there-through that is sized to receive insertion of a mechanical
fastener, such
as, for example, a bolt, screw, or pin, among other fasteners, can be used to
secure or
mount the device 100 to another device, structure, and/or surface.
[00016] The
shaft cover 110 can extend from a first end 101 to a second end 103.
Further, at least one of the ends 101, 103 may include an end wall 105 that
can prevent
ingress/egress through at least the end cover 110. Further, according to
certain
embodiments, an inner region 107 (Figure 2A) of the end cover 110 that is
sized to at
least receive at least a portion of the shaft 104 may extend through at least
one of the ends
101, 103. Thus, according to certain embodiments, the at least one of the
first and second
ends 101, 103 of the cover 110 can include an opening so as to accommodate
passage of
at least a portion of a component, such as the shaft 104, through that end(s)
101, 103.
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[00017] The
shaft cover 110 can be structured to be coupled or otherwise secured
or fastened to the housing 102 in a variety of different manners. For example,
according
to certain embodiments, the cover 110 may be fastenable to the housing 102 via
a snap-fit
connection. Such a snap-fit connection can, according to certain embodiments,
may be
provided by a protrusion or other portion of the cover 110 and/or housing 102
being bent,
deformed, or deflected, or otherwise flexible, in a manner that can
accommodate
assembly, and eventual relative selectively removable or, alternatively,
permanent
engagement to the other of the cover 110 and/or housing 102. For example,
according to
the embodiment depicted in Figure 1B, an end of the cover 110 can include, or
be
proximally adjacent to, a radially extending flange 112 that interfaces with a
complementary groove in the housing 102 in a manner that can at least assist
in fastening
the cover 110 to the housing 102.
[00018] While
the cover 110 shown in Figures 1A and 1B has a generally
cylindrical shape with at least one closed end 101, the cover 110 of the
present teachings
can take a variety of other forms. For example, as shown in Figure 3,
according to
certain embodiments, the cover 300 can be an open-ended cover 300 in which
opposing
ends 301, 303 of the cover 300 include an opening 309. Further, the cover 300
can
include a fixed member 302 at least at one end 301 of and a rotating member
304 that is
constructed, at least in part, to rotate relative to the fixed member 302.
While the cover
300 can have a variety of different configurations, in the embodiment depicted
in Figure
3 the cover 300 can be snapped fitted to a housing 102 in a manner similar to
that as
previously discussed with respect to the cover 110 depicted in Figures 1A and
1B. Figure
4 illustrates a front side perspective view of another exemplary shaft cover
400 according
to an illustrated embodiment of the present application. The cover 400 shown
in Figure 4
can be structured to be secured to a bearing housing or gearbox housing via
mechanical
fasteners, such as, for example, via screws, bolts, pins, among other
fasteners, that can be
inserted through openings 402 in a flange 404 of the cover 400. Unlike the
cover 300
depicted in Figure 3, the cover 400 shown in Figure 4 may be formed as a
single, unitary
or monolithic piece of material or component that contains no moving parts or
components. While several forms of covers 110, 200, 200', 300, 400 are
described
herein, the present teachings are in no way limited to these covers, and can
be applied to
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any form of shaft cover, including those having differing form factors,
securing features,
and those capable of being secured to other structures in addition to those
described
herein.
[00019] The
cover 200, 200' can be constructed from a variety of materials. For
example, referencing Figure 2A, according to one aspect of the present a cover
200 can
be constructed using a material that includes at least a first component 202
and a second
component 204, the first component 202 being different than the second
component 204.
Further, the second component 204 can be detectable by certain examination
equipment
that generally does not, or cannot, detect the first component 202 and/or
which is
structured to detect the second component 204. Additionally, according to
certain
embodiments, in addition to a first and second components 202, 204, the cover
200 can
also be constructed from a third component 206 that is different than the
first and second
components 202, 204, and which may be detectable by equipment by at least
equipment
that can detect the third component, and which may or may not generally detect
the first
and/or second components 202, 204. Similarly, according to certain
embodiments, the
second component 206 can be a material that is be detectable by certain
detection
equipment that generally does not, or cannot, detect the third component 206.
[00020] For
example, according to certain embodiments, the cover 200 can be
constructed from a first component 202 that is a polymer or plastic material,
and at least
one of, if not both, a second component 204 comprising a metal and a third
component
comprising 206 a compound. The metal of the second component 204 can be
ferrous,
non-ferrous, and/or a combination of both. Further, according to certain
embodiments,
the metal of the second component 204 can take the form of flakes that can be
disposed
in a carrier, such as, for example, a plastic or polymer carrier. According to
such an
embodiment, the inclusion of metal in the construction of the cover 200 can
facilitate the
detection of the cover 200, or fragments of the cover 200, by metal detecting
equipment.
[00021]
According to embodiments in which the second component 204 is a
material that is detectable by a metal detector, examples of materials for the
third
component 206 can include materials that are not only generally non-detectable
by a
metal detector, but which are also different than the first component 202.
Moreover, in
the present example, the compound of the third component 206 can generally not
be
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detectable by certain types of detectors, such as, for example, a metal
detector, but is
detectable by another type of detector, such as, for example, an X-ray
equipment, and be
a material different than the polymer or plastic material of the first
component 202.
Examples of material for the compound of the third component 206 can include,
but are
not limited to, barium, such as, for example, barium sulfate, or iodine. Thus,
the
inclusion of such a metal as a second component 204 and a compound as a third
component 206 can facilitate detection of the cover 200, or fragments of the
cover 200,
through either the detection of at least the second component 204 by a first
detection
device, such as, for example, a metal detection device, and/or by detection of
the third
component 206 via the use of a second, different type detection device, such
as, for
example, X-ray equipment. 8. Further, according to certain embodiments, the
cover 110
can be detected by sonar, optical or visual detection devices.
[00022]
Referencing Figures 2B and 3, according certain embodiments, a fixed
member 208, 302 of the cover 200', 300 can be formed from the first component
202,
such as, for example, a plastic material, and can include one or both of the
second and
third components 204, 206, such as, for example, metal fragments and
compounds.
Further, according to certain embodiments, another portion or component of the
cover
200', 300, such as, for example, a rotating member 210, 304 of the cover 200',
300, can
also be formed by the first component 202, such as a polymer or plastic
material, and
include one or both of the second and third components 204, 206, such as, for
example,
metal fragments and/or compounds. According to certain embodiments, the fixed
member 208, 302 and the rotating member 210, 304 can be constructed from the
first
component 202, such as, for example, a polymer or plastic material, and one of
the fixed
member 208, 302 or the rotating member 210, 304 includes the second component
204,
such metal flakes, while the other of the fixed member 208, 302 and the
rotating member
210, 304 includes the third component 206, namely the compound. Alternatively,
according to certain embodiments, the fixed member 208, 302 can be constructed
from at
least one of the first, second, and/or third components 202, 204, 206 while
the rotating
member 210, 304 is constructed from at least one of the first, second, and
third
components 202, 204, 206 that is not utilized in the construction of the fixed
member
208, 302.
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[00023] According to certain embodiments, the second and/or third
components
204, 206 can be blended with the first component 202 such that the second
and/or third
components 204, 206 are generally homogenously distributed throughout the
associated
formed cover 200, 200'. For example, according to the certain embodiments,
metal
particles and/or compounds of the second and/or third components 204, 206,
respectively,
can be blended with the plastic material of the first component 202 such that
the second
and/or third components 204, 206 are homogenously distributed throughout the
cover
200, 200'. According to one aspect of the present teachings, the metal
particles of the
second component 204 can make up at least 0.1% by weight of the material
forming the
cover 200, 200', and as much as 50% by weight of the material of the cover
200, 200'.
Further, one or more of the third component 206, and moreover one or more
compounds,
can make up at least 0.1% by weight of the material forming the cover 200,
200', and as
much as 50% by weight of the material of the cover 200, 200'.
[00024] In another aspect of the present teachings, the second component
204,
such as, for example, metal particles, can make up from about 1% to about 25%
by
weight of the material of the cover 200, 200'. Further, one or more of the
third
component 206, and moreover, one or more of the compounds, can make up from
0.5%
to about 15% by weight of the material of the cover 200, 200'. In still
another aspect of
the present teachings, the second component 204, such as metal particles, can
make up
from about 2% to about 15% by weight of the material and one or more third
components
206, such as one or more compounds, can make up from 1% to about 10% by weight
of
the material.
[00025] According to another aspect of the present teachings, the
combination of
metal particles of the second component 204 and the compound of the third
component
206 can comprise from about 0.2% to 65% of the weight of the cover 200, 200'.
According to another aspect of the present teachings, the metal particles and
compound
of the second and third components 204, 206, respectively, can comprise from
about 1%
to 50% of the weight of the cover 200, 200'. According to still another aspect
of the
present teachings, the metal particles and compound of the second and third
components
204, 206 can comprise from about 5% to 25% of the weight of the cover 200,
200'.
According to yet another aspect of the present teachings, the metal particles
and
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compound of the second and third components 204, 206 can comprise from about
10% to
20% of the weight of the cover 200, 200'. The ratio of the weight of the metal
particles
and compound of the second and third components 204, 206 to the plastic of the
first
component 202 can also take any value within or without these foregoing ranges
so long
as sufficient detectability characteristics are met. Further, the metal and
compound of the
second and third components 204, 206 can be homogeneously distributed
throughout the
cover 200, 200'. In the event a dislodged cover 200, 200', or even a
relatively small
broken fragment of the cover 200, 200', becomes present or lodged in another
product,
such a construction facilitates detection of the cover 200, 200' or fragment
of the cover
200, 200' via use of a relatively wide variety of detection devices,
including, for example,
a X-ray machine and/or a metal detector.
[00026] According to certain embodiments, one or more of the metal
particles of
the second component 204 and the compound of the third component 206 can be
combined with one or more plastic resins of the first component 202 to form
the material
that will form the cover 200, 200' according to the present teachings. The
combined
materials of the first, second, and third components 202, 204, 206 can be
heated to a
temperature high enough to allow the cover 200, 200' to be formed, such as,
for example,
via an extrusion, injection, or molding processes. The temperature can
correspond to the
melting temperature of the plastic resin or the blend of plastic resins that
make up the
material. Plastic resins that can be used in forming the cover 200, 200' can
include, but is
not limited to, polypropylene, polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate
(PET),
polyethylene including high density polyethylene (HDPE), fluoropolymers and
polyamide, nylon, including nylon 6,6, nylon 6,12 or nylon 11, among other
resins.
[00027] The metal particles incorporated as the second component 204 into
the
cover 200, 200' can be ferrous, or non-ferrous, the latter of which could
include such
materials as stainless steel, aluminum, and/or copper, among other materials.
Accordingly, the type of detector utilized to detect the presence of the
second component
204, if any, that comprises metal can be, at least in part, based on the type
of metal used
for the second component 204. Conversely, the type of metal used for the
second
component 204 can be based on the type of detector utilized to detect the
present of the
second component 204, if any, in the cover 200, 200'. For example, where
magnetism is
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the method used to detect the foreign material in the form of at least
fragments of a cover
200, 200', if not the entire dislodged cover 200, 200' in another material or
item, the
second component 204 may be one or more ferrous metals. The selection of the
metal or
other material for use as the second component 204 can be based on a variety
of different
criteria, including, for example, resistance of metal particles of the second
component
204 to rusting or corrosion due to the environment in which the cover 200,
200' is used.
For example, in some applications, the cover 200, 200' may be subjected to
relatively
extreme wash-down areas such that corrosion resistance or other deterioration
properties
or characteristics of the selected metal(s) for the second component 204 may
have greater
consideration than in other types applications that may also employ the use of
a cover
200, 200'.
[00028]
According to one aspect of the present teachings, the metal particles of the
second component 204 can be up to about 50% by weight of the cover 200, 200',
and in
other aspects, in at least an attempt to minimize cracking of the cover 200,
200', can be
less than about 15% by weight. According to still other aspects, metal flakes
of the
second component 204 in amounts greater that 25% of the weight of the cover
200, 200'
can be added to the plastic resin of the first component 202 so that the cover
200, 200'
can be relatively easily detected. According to certain embodiments, the cover
200, 200'
can contain at least 0.3% by weight metal particles in order to be relatively
easily
detectable, and preferably at least 2% by weight and most preferably at least
5% by
weight. Thus, a cover 200, 200' containing metal particles of the second
component 204
that are dispersed in the material of the first component 202 in a range of
0.1% to 50% or
greater by weight can be implemented. Other sub-ranges within these ranges are
also
suitable, as are higher amounts in order to aid detection. According to yet
another aspect
of the present disclosure coated and/or encapsulated metal particles of the
second
component 204 having an average particle size of about 10-1000 microns, some
of which
are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,395,695 to Shain et al., 5,472,661 and
5,629,092 to Gay,
and 5,679,402 to Lee, all of which are incorporated herein in their entirety.
[00029] The
compounds of the third component 206 referred to herein can be
contrast agents that relatively strongly absorb X-ray radiation and,
therefore, can be
relatively easily detected through X-ray detection equipment. According to one
aspect of
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the present teachings, the contrasting compounds of the third component 206
can be up to
about 50% by weight of the cover 200, 200', and according to other aspects
less than
about 10% by weight. The contrasting compounds of the third component 206 of
the
present teachings are used as a marker in the material forming the cover 200,
200' that
permits the cover 200, 200' to be relatively easily detected and located in a
product or
process stream. Every metal absorbs X-rays to some extent depending on the
atomic
number and the density within the cover 200, 200'. The contrasting compounds
of the
third component 206 can be selected for their ability to be relatively easily
detected by X-
ray detection devices when present in relatively small amounts. Thus, the
ability to
detect the cover 200, 200', or fragments thereof, containing the contrasting
compounds of
the third component 206 using X-ray equipment can be relatively significantly
enhanced.
Example contrasting compounds for use as the third component 206 include, but
are not
limited to, iodine and barium compounds, which are relatively easy to detect
using X-ray
equipment. For example, one such compound that can be used as the third
component
206 is barium sulfate, which typically is provided in the form of an insoluble
white
powder. The more barium sulfate in the material used to form the 200, 200',
the more
readily the cover 200, 200', or fragments thereof, can be detected, for
example, by X-ray
equipment.
[00030]
According to certain embodiments, the compound of the third component
206, and the metal particles of the second component 204, can be combined with
the
plastic resin, and/or resins of the first component 202 prior to molding the
cover 200, 200'
in at least an attempt to ensure relatively even distribution of the
components 202, 204,
206 in the material that forms the cover 200, 200'. The amount of metal
particles and
compound of the second and third components 204, 206 added to the material
forming
the cover 200, 200' can vary provided that the strength and flexibility of the
cover 200,
200' is not compromised. Accordingly, the characteristics of the cover 200,
200' can be
dependent upon the properties and processing characteristics of the specific
plastic resins
that are used as the first component 202, and the type and amounts of
compounds and
metal-based ingredients of the second and third components 204, 206.
[00031]
According to one aspect of the present teachings, a method for forming the
cover 200, 200' includes combining metal particles of the second component
204, a
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compound of a third component, and plastic material of a first component 202
to form a
composition. The composition is then heated to melt the plastic material of
the first
component 202. Because different plastic materials have different melting
temperatures,
the temperature at which the composition is heated can vary according to the
plastic or
plastics that are being used as the first component 202. The heated
composition can then
be formed into the cover 200, 200' using a variety of different techniques,
procedures, or
methods for forming the cover 200, 200'. For
example, according to certain
embodiments, the formation of the cover 200, 200' includes either extrusion or
injection
molding, among other forming techniques. After the cover 200, 200' is formed,
the cover
200, 200' can be cooled, such as, for example, to room temperature.
[00032] The
metal particles of the second component 204 can, according to certain
embodiments, be metal flakes and can be encased in a plastic carrier. The
plastic carrier
can permit the metal flakes of the second component 204 to be more easily
processed
with the plastic material in conventional plastic processing equipment, such
as extruders
and molding machines. Any plastic that is compatible with the plastic material
of the
first component 202 that is used to form the cover 200, 200' can be used as
the plastic
carrier. According to one aspect of the present teachings, the melting
temperature of the
plastic carrier is greater than the melting temperature of the plastic
material of the first
component. Accordingly, when the cover 200, 200' is formed, a composition that
includes at least the first component and the metal flakes of the second
component that
are encased in the plastic carrier, and which may or may not include the third
component
206, is heated to a temperature greater than the melting temperature of the
plastic
material of the first component 202, but lower than or equal to the melting
temperature of
the plastic carrier. According to another aspect of the present teachings, the
melting
temperature of the plastic material of the first component 202 is lower than
the melting
temperature of the plastic carrier. Such an embodiment can generally assist in
retaining
the metal particles of the second component 204 encased in the plastic carrier
and prevent
the metal particles metal particles of the second component 204 from falling
to the
bottom of the composition during processing.
[00033] In one
non-limiting example, a formulation includes 74% by weight
polyamide 6,6; 13% by weight iron flakes in a plastic carrier; 5% by weight
barium
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sulfate; and 8% concentrate colorant. The components of the formulation were
mixed
together and then heated to a temperature of about 600 degrees Fahrenheit (
F). The
heated mixture can then be molded into the cover 200, 200' and subsequently
cooled to
room temperature.
[00034] Certain
embodiments of the present application provide a shaft end closure
that is formed from a composition comprising metal particles having an average
particle
size of between about 5 microns and about 1000 microns, a compound comprising
barium, a plastic material. For example, according to certain embodiments, the
metal
particles can have an average particle size of between about 10 microns to 500
microns,
and moreover, between about 50 microns to about 250 microns. The shaft end
closure
can be detected by at least one of X-ray and metal detection devices. Further,
according
to certain embodiments, the compound can be barium sulfate. The metal
particles and the
compound can comprise, for example, from about 0.2% to about 65% by weight of
the
composition, and moreover, about 0.5% to about 60% by weight of the
composition. For
example, according to certain embodiments, the metal particles can comprise
from about
1% to about 25% by weight of the composition, and more specifically, can
comprise from
about 5% to about 20% by weight of the composition. The plastic material can
comprise
at least one or more of a polypropylene, a polycarbonate, a polyethylene, a
polyterephthalate (PET) or a polyamide. Additionally, the shaft end closure
can comprise
ferrous and non-ferrous materials.
[00035] While
embodiments discussed herein address a composition for use with
an end cover 200, 200', a similar composition can also be used with other
components of
the power transmission system. For example, according to certain embodiments,
the
above-discussed first component 202 and at least one of the second component
204 and
third component 206 can be utilized in the construction of the housing 102,
ball bearing
flange, motor enclosure, gear box housing, and/or motor housing or enclosure.
Further,
the percentage by weight of the second component 204 and/or third component
206 in the
composition, as well as the process for molding or otherwise forming such
components
can be similar to the above-discussed examples for the cover 200, 200'.
[00036] While
select embodiments of this invention are illustrated, various
modifications may occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is to be
understood that
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these modifications are incorporated within the embodiments of the present
invention as
if they were fully illustrated and described herein. Thus, while there have
been described
the preferred embodiments of the present invention, those skilled in the art
will realize
that other embodiments can be made without departing from the spirit of the
invention,
and it is intended to include all such further modifications and changes as
come within
the true scope of the claims set forth herein. For the purposes of this
disclosure and unless
otherwise specified, "a" or "an" means "one or more." To the extent that the
term
"includes" or "including" is used in the specification or the claims, it is
intended to be
inclusive in a manner similar to the term "comprising" as that term is
interpreted when
employed as a transitional word in a claim. Furthermore, to the extent that
the term "or"
is employed (e.g., A or B) it is intended to mean "A or B or both." When the
applicants
intend to indicate "only A or B but not both" then the term "only A or B but
not both"
will be employed. Thus, use of the term "or" herein is the inclusive, and not
the
exclusive use. See, Bryan A. Garner, A Dictionary of Modern Legal Usage 624
(2d. Ed.
1995). Also, to the extent that the terms "in" or "into" are used in the
specification or the
claims, it is intended to additionally mean "on" or "onto." As used herein,
"about" will
be understood by persons of ordinary skill in the art and will vary to some
extent
depending upon the context in which it is used. If there are uses of the term
which are
not clear to persons of ordinary skill in the art, given the context in which
it is used,
"about" will mean up to plus or minus 10% of the particular term. From about A
to B is
intended to mean from about A to about B, where A and B are the specified
values.
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